By far the hardest day yet of this expedition, which I suspect makes it the hardest day of my life to date. It’s also the last time I jinx things by saying I’m going to knock out ten miles…
The ice conditions have somehow got worse. It's been mostly old multi-year ice (that's survived more than one summer) with a bit of newer stuff thrown in, but whatever the age it's all been smashed to pieces and refrozen into the devil's assault course. The biggest flat area I came across was about the size of my living room. The rest was nightmarish. A never-ending maze built from jumbled-up boulders of ice and banks of snow so deep that my ski poles disappeared, right up to the handle.
Only it's not a maze, because mazes have a way out, and some kind of reason to them, whereas this is just chaos. So every few minutes you have to climb over the wall of the maze, dragging your sledge with you, which now feels like a wheelbarrow full of bricks (and missing its wheel).
So that's been my day, really. It's still cold enough for eyelashes to freeze (which is less of a problem than it sounds) and for chocolate to lose its flavour (a big problem indeed). And I'm drifting backwards. I'm amazed I managed six nautical miles today, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Arctic gobbles back one or two of those miles as I lie here tonight. It's all good fun.
Today is dedicated to my brother, Steven. And I've just remembered I haven't explained what I'm eating (other than chocolate). I'll go into it soon but right now my fingers are too cold to write any more.
A big hi to everyone at Dyffryn School!
Comments
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By Simon Jones on 31st March, 2008
Whoa! You know what, I got caught out in an unexpected hail storm this afternoon while I was on a walk. It had been warm and sunny, but all of a sudden it changed to the worst hail storm I’ve seen in a very long time.
I was annoyed at having to walk all the way home in that, getting cold and wet in the process, then I remembered what you wrote yesterday about you having to walk in conditions that were “like travelling through a demolished city, covered in a million tons of icing sugar.”
After that I quit moaning and just walked home.
Keep going mate!
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By rk on 31st March, 2008
Keep going! All this hard stuff is just making that moment when you’ve got miles and miles of flat snow in front of you THAT much sweeter. I know nothing about the north and expeditions and whatnot, but I have cross country skiied on the flat parts between chairlifts, and I have read Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, so I suppose that’s something. But we can all appreciate striving into the unknown to break a record - so keep going!
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By RObb on 31st March, 2008
these early challenges are only coming up so that you can gain the confidence needed to continue on after slaying them in short order!
Keep being strong, and nevermind the drift, it will come back in your favour when you need it!!
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By Moki Kokoris on 31st March, 2008
I think a blast of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana would be called for in conditions such as those you’ve been facing. There’s nothing like thunderous and powerful music in one’s ear to provide the motivation to press on. Even the lyrics - based on the Fortuna Wheel - would be apropos:
Regnabo (I shall reign),
Regno (I reign/I am reigning),
Regnavi (I have reigned).Reminds one of the old: I came, I saw, I conquered!
Keep those in your mind as you walk onward tomorrow.... Repeat after me: Regnabo, regno, regnavi.
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By Tom Gurnee on 31st March, 2008
Good grief, Ben. You know what I’m finding by reading your logs? It’s the fact that something’s stirring in me to look inward to myself more and more. Something’s telling me to go and find and attach to that same endeavoring spirit that is readily available and second nature for you.
“To ‘live’ in the day again!” I think. Yes! Through your posts, I am slowly reaching again to find/recognize that human “something” that I know is in there; in each and every one of us. But for most has, over time, slowly been pushed aside as we end up misaligning ourselves with average mundane existences of casual day-to-day living. I feel that for those of us that have fallen away from being able to experience the magic of life and the gift of the present moment, we MUST seek out, once again, that fire that is at the core of our being. We must, once again, go after that light, that fresh excitement of being alive every day as we once all did when we were younger.
I think everyone can relate to being “awake” in our youth. Sure we probably made some big mistakes along the way but at least we were doing something that made us feel alive. Life -was- lived “every day”. We were, “present” to the moments of time and that presence made every day long and good and desirous; through the good times and the bad.
So to me, your adventure has not changed per se, but evolved. Your expedition is not just a race to get from point A to point B in the fastest time, but has become an expedition for me to bring that fire of life back to the forefront of my being. I find I am eagerly anticipating your posts and I think about what you have exposed yourself to do; what depths of your soul you are reaching. I hear the calls of “Press On!” from within you and from within you something answers. You, Ben, are “living”. That willful, brilliance of white light that you are accessing within for energy is not just being used by you, but is now, being sent out to all of us. If we, those that are being touched by your journey, can reawaken that Giant within as Tony Robbins would say, ahh, imagine the possibilities. Imagine the new and exciting choices our lives can now behold. The freedom. If I can reach that spirit, that strength again, bring it back to the forefront of my life… Ahh, Imagine…
Your journey is reawakening a desire in me to be better, to live in the day and make it one that is memorable instead of one to simply hurry up and go by. Your journey is reawakening a desire in me to dream again. You journey is reawakening in me a call to action. For this, Ben, I am grateful.
So...Thank you. And enough of the sappy stuff. Just keep on keepin’ on, mate. And thanks for the posts, they’re freaking awesome (Isn’t technology great??) I’ll put the word in for better terrain before I sleep tonight and who knows, maybe it might just be answered. Press on!
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By Marc Tyler on 31st March, 2008
I agree with Tom Gurnee :
‘Your journey is reawakening a desire in me to be better, to live in the day and make it one that is memorable instead of one to simply hurry up and go by’.
I did the first 7 hour bike ride of my life today. I think if Ben is going through all that hardship I can at least finish a bloody bike course ! Fingers crossed for better conditions. -
By Paul Bower on 31st March, 2008
Hi Ben
I can only say much of the same as the previous entries. When I saw all the text from Tom I though god do I have to read all that have I got the time! The answer is yes. If you can do all that then why did I even think it.
Praying for flat snow or even a black run – keep it up its early days yet.Paul
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By Clare on 31st March, 2008
Fortis fortuna adiuvat........nuff said eh.
X -
By Anthony Goddard on 31st March, 2008
Though I have no experience trekking over pressure ridges, I strongly recommend when the going gets tough, switch to a new playlist on the mp3 player and think about how seriously hardcore it is that someone actually designed a titanium spork for extreme trekking :)
That chocolate situation really isn’t ideal. Someone should invent some Arctic chocolate.
6nm is still impressive, you’re 6nm closer to the record!
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By Chris Martin on 31st March, 2008
Fingers crossed those ocean currents feeling a bit weak. That photo of the ice looks utterly mental! It looks like a fridge recycling centre. 6nm is good going mate, two friends of mine ran the 8 mile race in Kingston yesterday and neither of them can walk today! Oh and they didn’t have sledges, snow and ice blocks to deal with. Go Well.
Chris M -
By David McQueen on 31st March, 2008
I am getting some students to look at this.
Those who have that potential in them but need another reason to keep pushing forward.Keep it up mate, we are rooting for you!!!
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By Alison Lowndes on 31st March, 2008
LOL @ fridge recycling centre, Chris .. and, Anthony, my 2 kids have lost all table etiquette since Santa brought them titanium sporks last Christmas.
Ben .. the picture is unbelievable .. I can only imagine you have this auto-pilot button you can access (probably called FOCUS) that enables you to get over SIX Nautical Miles of stuff like that !? [For any students reading I found this great link to explain what Ben’s climbing over .. http:// www. athropolis.com /arctic-facts / fact-pressure. htm Note: take out the anti-spam spaces before copying].
You’re clearly inspiring many many people, Ben .. and I know this makes your own spirit soar .. so “Well Said, Tom”.
After you’ve read all this & you go to sleep in your torn sleeping bag, listening to the creaking ice, Remind Yourself you’ve already conquered EVERYTHING that the Arctic’s thrown up in your path so far .. beaten every one of those “fridges” and tomorrows a whole new day. Whether the day was the worst or the easiest .. you’ve conquered it .. thats another victory notched up and another achievement you just made. Grabbing a quote I’ve used before, Ben,” what lies behind or ahead of you is insignificant compared to what lies within you”. If you’re reading this, you’re alive .. thats your victory.
P.S. when you get back .. that offer of marriage is still open ;-)
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By David Jensen on 31st March, 2008
Hi Ben - just watching quietly from the sidelines, but wanted you to know we are all rooting for you from here. DJ
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By Dominic on 31st March, 2008
Mate - Keep it up, we’re all proud of you here. Emma sends her love by the way! Dom
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By Paul Bower on 31st March, 2008
Alison, that wouldn’t be a “white” wedding by any chance! very appropriate.
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By Christine & Terry on 31st March, 2008
Hi Ben,
Oli spent Easter with us and told us about your blog. I have been following your progress with great interest. The pictures are fantastic and you make everything so interesting. Our best wishes go with you and to your mother who must be so proud but also worried sick. Good luck .
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By rosie stancer on 31st March, 2008
I think the mileage you’re packing in is awesome, most of your predessors were still averaging a couple of nm. Loose the odd bit of kit but don’t loose that sense of humour, it’s quite a propulsion and cheers us all up at this end whilst we bite our fingernails up to the elbow.
and when you’re cussing and bruising your way through all that rubble trouble, just think...would you really rather be rubbing up to smelly strangers on a slow, overcrowded tube going nowhere? Or right there with over 5 million sq m of ice to yourself?
and never mind about going backwards to get that gun - go for a double first of being the fastest man on arctic ice to go ....nowhere.
You can do it Ben,
Love Rosie Stancer
PS someone touched on the delicate subject of ‘farts’ amongst your fan club missives. Well, secret.....I used to fart in my flying suit, then stick my nose under my collar to take in the blissfully warm air that resulted. QUite pleasant given it was eau du chocolat. -
By Anton Uhl on 31st March, 2008
Must we read Tom’s essay? Yes.
For the same reason we sit glued to our computers reading your daily updates. Climbing mountains of chaos in the freezing, and you still find the courage to make your daily entries. You are a hero. -
By Alison Lowndes on 31st March, 2008
Paul,
An ice-white wedding, of course, though the dress would pale in comparison to Ben’s speech, no doubt. Despite that being my first ever question to the Ice Hero, we perhaps really should meet first, hey Ben? .. such is the online world !
I will guarantee that if Ben says YES, Paul (bear in mind brother Rich apparently already has a hot chick lined up for him on his return LOL) we’ll discuss holding it at the Downes Arms, ok?! .. I know the ride over there very well and will come visit once my bikes good to go.
Ben, sleep well & may the polar bears take a great dislike to the aroma of tonights dinner and stay well clear x
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By Jackson School Sixth Graders Mrs. Behenna's Langua on 31st March, 2008
Dear Mr. Saunders,
Thank you for letting us see your video for the 2008 Expedition. You’re an inspiration. We would love to do the work you do because you show a lot of bravery, courage, and determination. Your expedition helps build endurance and strength. We will be rooting you on until the very finish here at the Jackson School.
Good luck and we hope that in the next 30 days you will see all zeros on your GPS!
Sincerely,
Jackson School Sixth Graders -
By Rachel Hanley on 31st March, 2008
Well, you seem to be keeping a good attitude about it all… while its impressive that you’ve done 6 nautical miles, I find the attitude more outstanding. Well done on that count. And just think, (with no intentions of jinxing) you’ve now received your allotted amount of setbacks- or we’re hoping at least a good portion of it. Naturally, that means tomorrow, you could pull 12 nautical miles easy… ;)
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By Sean Chapple on 31st March, 2008
Great stuff Ben. It will get easier once you become imune to the rubble, extreme cold, freezing eyelashes, frosted face. You didnt expect anything different and thats what you love about it all. Enjoy the moments. 6nm is outstanding this early on!!
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By The Sybarite on 31st March, 2008
Just finished up my fennel and pepper salad, lying on my v. flat living room floor and marvelling at those pressure ridges- hope they ease up sometime soon.
Looking forward to tales of arctic tent-fare and wishing you an easier day tomorrow! Courage x -
By Stef on 01st April, 2008
Mate - it’s funny..I was snowboarding yesterday w/three of my very attractive blond girlfriends in the picturesque mountains of sunny California when we stopped at the summit for a few delicious pints and to relax in the warm sun. All that snow (and the pint in my hand) made me think of you!
When I got home I read this post and felt very ashamed of myself! Keep up the hard work and you will do it. Your achievements in the snow are far more rewarding and respectable than mine!
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By caro on 01st April, 2008
dearest ben, i somehow managed to totally miss that you’re already on your way. so glad to get to read along. here’s to hoping that the ice conditions will be better. and that that chocolate will taste like something again. love, c.
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By caro on 01st April, 2008
p.s. is that that same filthy wolf fur on your jacket as in the past? :)
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By Nikki on 01st April, 2008
I still stand by my previous comment...I would rather be doing THAT than THIS!!!
Press on, Ben! You know you can do it!
p.s. Rosie Stancer!! What’s your next gig, girl? Nice to see you around!
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By Francesca Zino on 03rd April, 2008
Awesome Ben. Great to bump into you at the RGS just before you set off and see you on BBC again just before the off. Sounds like it’s tough going, but press on and may the force be with you! Wishing you all the very best, Cesca
Day’s Statistics ~ 30/03/08
| Position | N83.35.36 W074.14.89 |
|---|---|
| Daily Distance | 6.08nm |
| Total Distance | 29.44nm |
| Distance To Go | 386.5nm |
| Traveling Time | 9hrs |
| Conditions | Nasty! |
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This journal is coming to you from the high Arctic, where Ben Saunders is attempting to set a new world speed record from Ward Hunt Island to the Geographic North Pole. The current record was set in 2005 by a guided team using dog sleds and numerous re-supplies in a time of 36 days 22 hours. Ben’s expedition will be solo and unsupported and on foot. Read more about the expedition and Ben